Caution: Excessive Noise from Motor Vehicles

If you are proud of the loud noise made by your truck, bus, car, motorcycle or moving equipment, or have even had work done to make it even louder in order to make your presence known, the following message is directed at you. Today the Department of Transport through the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy and Logistics is warning owners and drivers of tractor trucks and motorcyclists about noise pollution. The Department says any vehicle that causes excessive noise is prohibited by law, under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Regulations. Today, Minister Rodwell Ferguson told the media that it is a public nuisance that affects community residents and he, himself, has experienced it.

Rodwell Ferguson

Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Public Utilities, Energy & Logistics

“It’s not a new regulation, but I guess it was not enforced over the years. So when I took over the Ministry of Transportation, I told my team that I am here to work with them to improve the ministry and that is one that we want to improve. I live on the highway, Duane, and I might be in my bed early in the morning about five o’clock when a truck passes and a bump is not far from my house so when it puts on the Jake breaks, it wakes me up. And so we want to enforce it. It might be a bit difficult, but I think we have a very good team of enforcers and I can almost assure you that we are going to make it happen.”

Duane Moody

“What are the penalties associated with something like this?”

Rodwell Ferguson

“At this juncture, I cannot tell you the penalties because I am not directly responsible for the penalties, but I know that there is a penalty. And the Ministry of Transportation is going to enforce the penalty. We now have a prosecutor onboard so every ticket that’s been issued, that prosecutor should be able to take it through the courts of Belize and be successful on collection of the fine.”